Combination flashlight and compass



Oct. 22, 1957 H. 1. COHN 2,810,821

COMBINATION FLASI'LIGH'I AND COMPASS Filed Feb. 6, 1956 FIG! INVENTOR.

HENRY I. COHN ATTORNEY 2,810,821 Patented Oct. 22, 1957 United StatesPatent ()fiiice 2,810,821 COMBINATION FLASHLIGHT AND COMPASS Henry I.Cohn, University City, Mo.

Application February 6, 1956, Serial No. 563,545

' 1 Claim. 01. 2406.4)

This invention relates in general, to flashlights, and, moreparticularly, to flashlights incorporating a compass for illuminationthereof upon operation of the flashlight.

In the various field activities as engaged in by hunters, soldiers,surveyors, boy scouts, timbermen, etc., as well as in the relatedactivities of fishermen, boatmen, and the like, flashlights andcompasses are necessary and generally accepted pieces of equipment.However, heretofore the same have been customarily recognized asindependent, individual articles, although at night or in periods of lowvisibility the compass could not be utilized unless light from theflashlight was cast thereon. In order to thus use a compass anindividual would be caused to periodically lay down any other equipmentso that a flashlight may be operated in one hand and a compass held inthe other. Such operation is not accomplished with ease in view of theneed to dispose the other equipment, be it a gun, rod and reel, and thelike, in a convenient place of rest under such prevailing conditions.Thus, in view of the trying nature of said operation the examination ofa compass is reduced to a minimum, whereas during dark relativelyconstant checking by compass is requisite for accurate and safeguidance.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide acombination flashlight and compass adapted upon operation of theflashlight to illuminate simultaneously the compass so that only onehand is utilized in the operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a. combinationflashlight and compass wherein the compass is so located with respect tothe source of light as to become illuminated upon operation of theflashlight but without in any Way detracting from the effectiveness ofthe flashlight as a general source of illumination.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combinationflashlight and compass which may be provided in a variety of styles;which may be produced economically; which is reliable and durable inusage; and wherein the compass is protected against damaging impacts.

These and other detailed objects are obtained by the structuresillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side viewof a combination flashlight and compass constructed in accordance withand embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 33 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view, in partial section of another formof the present invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view, in partial section of a furtherform of the present invention.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which representspractical embodiments of the present invention, A designates aflashlight comprising a barrel 1 serving as a handle as well as acontainer for the customary batteries (not shown), having a switch 2mounted in the sidewall thereof. One end ofsaid barrel 1 is closed as byan end wall 3 or by the well known threaded end cap. The other end ofbarrel 1 has mounted thereon a head 4 which may be of general dome-likecharacter and fabricated of translucent material, such as glass or of asuitable thermoplastic resin. Said head 4 is internally threaded, as at5, for engagement with the external threads of a neck 6 of said barrel1, for ready detachment therefrom; said head 4 defining a chamber 4sepa-. rated from the barrel interior by the usual light bulb 7. whichis conventionally mounted within a bulb reflector 8.

In the outer surface of its side wall, head 4 is provided with 2.preferably cylindrical recess 9, spaced from the normally forward end ofsaid head in adjacency: to neck 6.

Recess 9 is dimensioned or sized for snugly receiving an outer casing orreceptacle 10, made also of translucent material, of a compass B; saidouter casing 10 being rigidly secured within recess 9 by any effectivemeans such as by friction fit.

Casing 10 carries an inner case 11 likewise of transluoent materialwhich has mounted therein the customary magnetic needle 12 with coveringcrystal 13; said latter may be provided with an indicator dot 14 forcoaction with needle 12 for guide purposes in the manner heretofore wellknown.

It will thus be seen that upon operation of switch 2 to effect lightingof bulb 6, compass B will become illuminated by passage of the lightrays through translucent head 4, casing 10 and inner case 11, so thatthe position of needle 12 can be readily determined. As the operation ofthe flashlight A requires but one hand, the user's other hand will beavailable to handle such other equipment as may be being utilized, suchas a gun in the case of a hunter or soldier, a rod and reel in the caseof a fisherman, etc. Thus, simultaneously, the flashlight will pro videgeneral illumination of the immediate vicinity in its normally intendedmanner, and permit determination of relative location. Compass B is solocated on head 4 that it will not materially adversely affect theilluminating characteristics of flashlight A, and will be readilyaccessible to the user. Compass B is securely seated within recess 9 sothat only the upper covering portion thereof extends beyond the outersurface of head 4 whereby the same is protected against any damagingimpacts that might normally be received upon the sides and base of acompass which was not so mounted.

Combination flashlight and compass units of the present invention can beeconomically manufactured, incorporating standard barrels and lightemitting structures heretofore used; are effective and durable in use,and add greatly to the safety of the users.

If desired, there may be provided for use with barrel 1 a head 15, asshown in Figure 4, provided with an opening 16 in the side wall thereofextending from the outer surface thereof to the chamber 15'. An outercasing 17 may be suitably set in opening 16 which may be of such designas to have its lower wall substantially flush with the interior surfaceof head 15 or may be of such depth as to terminate spacedly therefrom.Said casing 17 receives the inner casing 18 of compass B in a mannersimilar to that described in conjunction with compass B hereinabove. Itwill thus be seen that upon energization of the bulb the light raysemitted therefrom will pass directly through the base wall of outercasing 17.

In Figure 5 is shown another form of the invention wherein there isprovided a barrel 20 having a threaded neck portion 21 of substantiallythe same diameter as said barrel 20. Mounted upon neck 21 is a head 22which is interiorly threaded at its open end for engagement upon saidneck 21 and which will extend laterally outwardly beyond the side wallsof barrel 20. Said head 2 311,-. ,3: if? Y 22 carr1es a compass B andmay' rece1ve same 1n either a recess such as shown 'in'Figure Toi'ahaiier'ture as and compassmay-he,n ade ,aridustituted ithes e-here-Q,

in s'hownand described without departingi rom the nature and principleof ngyumyention 1 3L ,Having thus despril aedgnylnyention, what I claimand desire -to secure bY -Ll tlfSf?86Ilt is- 4 3 In combination with an,electricllashlighthaving a barrel adapted to receive a sourcg or?electrical energy, a light. source..;fo r external illuminatipnparrgiedat one end of the hand, a dometlikc-head, {fabricated ofi translucentmaterial and. defining ,ar i ,inner chamber, .threadedly secured to saidbarrel in cnclosing.relation.to said light source, said head having inone side portion thereof an outwardly-opening cylindrical recess inperpendicular-relation to the axis of the barrel, of a compass provided'wifhi'nsii'd recess' and adapted to be illuminated upon energization ofsaid light source simultaneously with the external illumination, saidcompass comprising an outer, cylindrical translucent casing securedwithin said recess, an inner cylindrical translucent case carried withinsaid outer casing, a magnetic needle mounted within said inner case, anda covering crystal mounted on said inner case.

Refere'nccsCited in the file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,360,575 Pinto Nov. 30, 1920 1,363,698 Wacker Dec. 28, 1920 2,237,963Hawks Apr. 8, 1941 2,428,975 Lamb Oct. 14, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,164Great Britain "Apr.8, 1'941

